2019 NRL – Penrith Panthers vs Gold Coast Titans Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Penrith Panthers vs Gold Coast Titans taking place? Friday 12th July, 09:00
Where is Penrith Panthers vs Gold Coast Titans taking place? Panthers Stadium
What channel is Penrith Panthers vs Gold Coast Titans on?
UK – Sky Sports Arena
Australia – Fox Sports
Where can I stream Penrith Panthers vs Gold Coast Titans?
UK – Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match via Sky Go
Australia – https://www.telstra.com.au/tv-movies-music/sports-offer
Where can I get tickets for Penrith Panthers vs Gold Coast Titans?
Penrith Panthers – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500014
Gold Coast Titans – https://tickets.nrl.com/team/500004
THE TEAM NEWS
PENRITH PANTHERS
Head Coach: Ivan Cleary
Starting 13: Edwards, Mansour, Whare, Naden, To’o, Luai, Maloney, Tamou, Kenny, Fisher-Harris, Kikau, Yeo, Martin – Interchanges: Egan, Winterstein, Leota, Campbell-Gillard – Reserves: Ellis, Cartwright, Sele, Cleary
Unavailable: Tyrone May
- The bye week came at the wrong time for Penrith who made it five wins in a row in their last outing with a dramatic victory over New Zealand Warriors and they will hope that they can maintain their recent good form as they host Gold Coast.
- Nathan Cleary was expected to miss out once again for the Panthers but he is a surprise inclusion amongst the reserves but the availability of his usual partner in the halves could is up in the air with Penrith waiting to see how James Maloney pulls up after appearing in Origin.
- Dean Whare returned from injury against the Warriors last time out but he was only named on the bench and will slot back in to his usual spot in the centres here with Isaah Yeo reverting to his preferred position in the back row which also sees Frank Winterstein drop to the bench.
GOLD COAST TITANS
Head Coach: Garth Brennan
Starting 13: Brimson, Don, Copley, Kelly, Sami, Roberts, Jacks, Stockwell, Peats, Fotuaika, Proctor, Cartwright, Wallace – Interchanges: Rein, Boyd, Whitbread, Matthews – Reserves: Stone, Latu, Lee, Arthars
Unavailable: Ryan James, Michael Gordon, Ash Taylor, Keegan Hipgrave, Jai Arrow, Tyrone Peachey
- Gold Coast were outclassed by Manly and some consolation points in the second half did not hide how poor they were overall with the Titans looking like they will be doing battle with Canterbury to avoid the wooden spoon.
- Gold Coast have signed Leeds Rhinos centre Kallum Watkins but he will have to wait at least another week for his debut after Titans head coach Garth Brennan opted to leave him out of his squad.
- Jesse Arthars has been dropped to the reserves in a surprising move with Dale Copley taking his place in the centres whilst Jarrod Wallace moves to lock and Jack Stockwell comes off the bench to start at prop, with Jai Whitbread and Will Matthews reverting to interchanges.
THE PREDICTION
Penrith will hope their week off did not stop their momentum after securing a fifth straight win in the NRL last time out. They will need some good news regarding James Maloney's fitness after Origin and may even be able to call upon Nathan Cleary but even without one or both of their first-choice halves, they might still have too much for a poor Gold Coast outfit. The Titans have been cast adrift at the foot of the ladder with Canterbury and following another poor showing last time out, they will have to make huge improvements to get close to Penrith.
